Merit Financial Group LLC Has $901,000 Position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD)

Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Free Report) by 31.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,635 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock after buying an additional 3,526 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV were worth $901,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Dodge & Cox lifted its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 27.7% in the 4th quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 39,996,830 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $2,002,641,000 after acquiring an additional 8,670,940 shares in the last quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership purchased a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the fourth quarter worth approximately $56,849,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the fourth quarter worth approximately $37,311,000. Alberta Investment Management Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,540,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 7.2% during the fourth quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 7,569,492 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $379,004,000 after purchasing an additional 505,206 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.53% of the company's stock.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Trading Up 0.1%

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV stock opened at $70.98 on Monday. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a one year low of $45.94 and a one year high of $71.94. The company's fifty day moving average price is $66.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $58.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The company has a market capitalization of $127.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.91, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.85.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.04. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a return on equity of 15.29% and a net margin of 10.98%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.75 EPS. The business's revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 7th were given a $1.0492 dividend. This is a positive change from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's previous annual dividend of $0.87. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 7th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on BUD. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, May 18th. Argus raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Berenberg Bank started coverage on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $70.10 to $88.00 in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $71.50.

About Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, exports, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands.

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